Sweet win for young social entrepreneurs

Young people from St Leonard’s Primary School, Dunfermline, successfully reached the final of Fife Council’s 4 to Fortune, a Culture of Enterprise project that sees pupils compete for funding to set up their own school-based social enterprise.

The 4 to Fortune final followed a four-week programme that supported over 500 young people from across Fife to use their creativity, innovation and enterprising skills to turn £4 seed fund into over £3,300, which they are using to have a social impact in their own communities.

4 to Fortune was created by Fife Council and supported by the Social Enterprise Academy, which assists social entrepreneurs and the wider voluntary sector around personal development, leadership and entrepreneurship.

The final event saw three young teams from St Leonard’s Primary School compete at a ‘Dragon’s Den’, with ‘Gummies for Joy’ claiming top prize with their sweet making enterprise. The team worked hard to research their market and understand their customers’ needs. All profits made will support their local community.

The teams will now be supported by the Social Enterprise Academy to investigate opportunities to create their own sustainable school-based social enterprise.

Cllr Lesley Laird, Fife Council’s Spokesperson for Planning and Economy and Depute Leader, said: “Enterprise is a valuable skill to have in any role. 4 to Fortune is just one of our schemes that offer a head start to young Fifers as they learn valuable skills for future careers or training. We are committed to boosting the careers of young people, and as well as supporting Modern Apprenticeship week, that starts on 6 March 2017, programmes such as 4 to Fortune are promoting and encouraging our pupils to develop a fulfilling career and a vibrant enterprise culture in Fife.”

Education Co-Ordinator of Social Enterprise Academy,Claire Fraser, said “The Social Enterprise Academy is delighted to be involved in Fife Council’s Four to Fortune initiative, which aims to develop entrepreneurial skills in young people in school. The teams were incredibly creative with their business programmes and the winning team, Gummies for Joy, will go forward for a National Social Enterprise in Education Award later this year.”

Pamela Stevenson, Fife Council’s Lead Officer of Economic Development and one of the judges, added: “The young teams have shown tremendous enterprise skills in understanding their market and creating a product that fulfilled what their customers wanted. Through their hard work they have been able to have an impact on their community and develop a keen social awareness.”

Fife Council’s Culture of Enterprise is a programme that promotes and encourages enterprise, employability and skills development to support the young people of Fife to find, create and develop a fulfilling career and a vibrant enterprise culture in Fife.

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